Mother's Day

I want to invite you to open your bibles with me to genesis chapter 1.

I want to give due attention today to honoring not only the moms, but all the women in our midst. Pastoring sometimes require us to be aware of struggles many have within our midst who have and are struggling through heartbreaking years of infertility, and then coming to church on Mother’s Day is never easy for families with that struggle. To be honest, I know I’ve talked to many couples who would say emotionally, they would almost want to avoid the day altogether. I don’t want any woman—or man, for that matter—to ever think that way about any day gathering together with the church. Mother’s Day is obviously a joyful day in many ways, but it’s also a hard day for many people and I always want to be sensitive to that. This morning I want to honor all women. And my hope is that by the time we get to the end of the message today, youn would be encouraged to see yourself in a different way. In all honesty, the way the Bible talks about womanhood is so different from the way the world around us today talks about womanhood. And especially with men too, there’s this perception to how a man should be, and a woman should be in this world. When I think of messages like this, I always like asking this question, who his greater, man or woman? And the answer is this, man is far more superior than a woman, at being a man. And a woman is far more superior than a man, at being a woman. And its true, God has created man and woman in his image, to reflect his glory, and his mercy and his grace, in unique ways, that are specific to their genders. And that is the beauty of what we see in Genesis chapter 1.

Look with me… Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the sea and over the birds of heaven, and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on earth. So, God created man in his own image, and in the image of God, he created him; male and female he created them. When I read this verse, one of the very first things that I am usually zeroed in on the fact that God uses this word created, three times. It’s this Hebrew word Called, Bara… it means to be shaped and created. It’s as if, God is making a point here. He created, he created, he created them.. So I hope you hear and understand what the texts is saying… you’ve been a shaped and created by God. Think about the Psalms for a moment.. Pslam 139 verse 13 says, For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. So we ask, For what purpose? And why? I think that’s one of the most amazing questions in life… why was I created. Well, in the midst of this creation, you’ve been created in the very image of God. And the word says, he blessed them. I don’t know who needs to hear this, but you as a woman, you are a blessing. Not as an hindrance. You’re not a created being, that has no calling or purpose or part in God's divine plan.. you’re been created and noted and you are a blessing.

And so, the first stop on our journey today is for us to know this: You are uniquely honored, blessed and created in the very image of God. You’re honored , blessed and created in the image of God. And that’s such an important point to make to all women listening today because that means theres an identity that has been created within your image as a woman, that is valuable, and honored, and loved, and cherished. You’re dignified. You deserve a place of honor. And lets just take a moment to let that sink in… You’re not dignified by what the world says about you as a woman. You’re dignity is not dependent upon your career, or martial status or any other woman's or mans opinion - and even your own opinion for that matter. Because lets be honest, our own opinion of ourselves can be harsh and untrue. Right? could it be possible….. that you do not see yourself as a honored woman of God? I would say, yes. It is possible. Theres so many perspectives out there in this world trying and competing for your attention, and often times we can believe what others say…. But the truth from God’s perspective is that, you are created by God , and God says, you are to be blessed because of the image you bear. Because you are made, in his image. In the very image of God, who created you.

What a blessing that is to know. And, yet I am saddened. Because I know this world has such a horrible thought, and image of what a woman should be, and shouldn’t be. The world goes to so much effort to make you believe that you’re only worth something if you’re physically beautiful, and our culture is screaming in thousands of ways, buy this and do that to enhance your image. Thousands of dollars and thousands of hours by businesses and the entertainment industry go into making sure they convince woman of all ages their need for esteem and fulfillment and significance is to look and feel a certain way. Just a year or so ago, I remember watching the national news and Miss USA resigned her position because they were subjecting her to things that were against her own morals and standards. And SO the world says, physical beauty is to be honored, or promiscuousness is desired. And when you’re neither of those things, the world would claim that you are undesirable. But that has nothing to do with what Gods word says about women.. God’s word in proverbs 31 lays out this amazing, I dunno.. Maybe road map… or glimpse, or maybe encouragement to live up to about a Woman's image that is honoring, and loving and cherishing, and faithful.. and the weird thing, is that in this proverb for women, it mentions nothing about beauty. I’ve asked one of our women to come up and read for us these verses… and I would like for all of us, even men, to Listen to what this proverbs says that a good honorable woman looks like. Have Mary Read:

Thank You Mary. So many great things. But yet, nothing about physical beauty. but we do read She about being a good cook, Amen, right? and a good manager of her home, and how wonderful she is with being a good wife. She’s a homemaker, and cares for her kids, She gets up before everyone, and never lets the lamp burn out, and she’s confident and humble, and a servant leader. She’s strong, and even a good business woman, making deals and buying property for the benefit of her family. And on top of all of that.. she’s compassionate, and gives to the poor. Doesn’t this woman sound like wonder woman? Like when I read this I go, man, this woman must be a super woman. Like who can compete with a woman like that? Or most would say, she’s all that and a bag of potato chips?… hahaha… But heres the thing.. I can only imagine, a woman, reading or hearing this list of what a good, and godly christlike woman who’s made in the image of God, and blessed and honored is to be like, and thinking, how perfect this woman is…. And then I would read or listen to that and go, how in the world is that possible for me. There is no way I can be like that. And think about it, you can read this passage and be more discouraged or tempted to say, I will never become worthy of being a godly woman, because the requirements are impossible. And then, I think of the men listening and reading it… because. single men can look upon this verse and have almost an unrealistic perception on what a woman should be like. So, On one hand, you may have a woman saying I can never be that kind of perfect woman, and on the other hand, have a man saying, “I want to find a wife whose perfect like that. And so it’s like you have two people so far apart because they both are looking in the wrong direction for love. One feels unequipped and not enough, and another setting a high standard that could be unachievable, and both looking in the wrong direction for identity. Then I think of married men and woman.. On one hand, a married woman can look at all of those characteristics and go, “I don’t even know how that is even possible.” I think of Alicia saying…. I have three kids, and two dogs, and 9 ducks, 16 chickens and four ungodly looking turkens to care for, and on top of that, I have a husband and three teenagers to care for. How in the world do I find time to be this woman? Sometimes she might not get to all the laundry, or cleaning, or anything.. and maybe sometimes she may go, “I feel like I’m failing as a wife.” Where would I even begin?, so that I too can be a proverbs 31 perfect wonder woman? I just wonder if married women would read this and say, I feel like its impossible in todays culture. Especially for woman that work to provide a second income for the family. And then on the other hand, married men can so easily look upon this verse and say, “I wish my wife was like that. I wish she was this perfect woman who loved me and our family just like this woman in proverbs 31. And the truth to whether or not your single or married, man or woman, … we know all, that both of these circumstances of being single or married are actually an unhealthy responses to this picture of womanhood in God’s word. Because this proverb isn’t about a woman pursing perfection and a man seeking a woman that’s living in perfection, as much as its about giving us a picture of what we often lack when it comes to perfection. Right? We’re not perfect people. Amen? Maybe someone needs to hear that. Regardless of what you think.. no one is perfect. So Listen, you are imperfect. You have sinned against God. Paul tells us in Romans, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, There’s an imperfection in your life. There’s an marred identity that you have been born with. Its called original sin. And sin not only clouds and hinders, and subjects us to imperfections within our identity that we have in Christ, but it also, makes us feel lost in who we are. And because of this sin, you are separated from God as a result. Men and woman alike, you are imperfect, and God in his infinite perfect love is pursuing you. Like a husband pursues a wife, Christ loves and pursues the church. And I always find it amazing that Jesus never seeks the perfect bride at first, have you ever thought about that? IN all of his glory, and majesty and royalty as our King, he seeks a bride, and he doesn’t seek physical beauty, or what the world says to seek, he seeks the most imperfect bride to begin a relationship with. It’s like he looks to his bride and says, its not who you are now, but who you will become when we are together. Look at what Paul says, "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.” Did you catch that? Christ 'gave himself up for her' - He initiated the relationship with His sacrifice. He cleanses us, washes us, transforms us. The church starts imperfect but becomes radiant and blameless through His love. That's the beauty of the gospel - He doesn't wait for us to clean ourselves up. He meets us in our mess and makes us beautiful. And To think, Christs loves me… in my imperfections, and he pursues me with all my quirks and shortcomings and failures. He loves me. That encourages me. Jesus calls me to himself. And I become a part of the church which is made up of imperfect men and woman seeking a perfect Christ together. That’s why Jesus went too the cross. Perfection needed to start somewhere. And it begins with the love that was shown by Jesus on the cross’s and us coming to him by faith. Friends, our imperfections are made perfect in Christ who becomes the author and perfecter of our faith. Isn’t that what hebrews teaches us? Hebrews 12:2 says, ” fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Right, so when we read proverbs 31, it’s ok to recognize your imperfection. I think its a very core part of our salvation.. realizing that we have flaws. As follower and lovers of Christ, we don’t look to Christ and go, Man, I’m so discouraged by His perfection. No, we’re encouraged! Thats what we desire as holy people… we say boldly, we treasure Christ. We don’t go, I will never be like Jesus… No, we look to Christ and we go, each day, I pursue less of me, and more of him in my life. Im going to live this day presenting myself as a Holy sacrifice. And so what I’m saying is this, we’re not perfect, but were being perfected in Christ. It’s a journey that requires a relationship. We come along side of Paul and say, If there is any good in me its Christ in me. And so, I guess what I am saying is this.. proverbs 31 isn’t about what you do to be a perfect woman, but who you look to who’s perfecting you from the inside out. And so ladies, who are you looking to? Y0ou’re husband? Your children? Other women? The world? Or to Christ, the living word who is the perfecter of your faith?

Now, For you men.. Can I just side step here and say something to you… I know were here to honor women today, but I just want to mention you for a moment. I don’t want you to listen or read proverbs 31 and go.. yeah, you need to be this christlike wonder woman… because proverbs 31 isn’t a Scripture just for women, but for men as well. Its true… why would this be in the Bible? Not just for woman’s Bible study or retreats…. This proverbs is for men as well. This proverb should enougrage you to say, I want to lead my wife and nurture her into being a christlike wife, or woman like that. And I think its so easy for men to read something like proverbs 31 and say things like, well hunny, you better get to work, because you are far form being a proverbs 31 woman. And that kind of language is not God honoring, nor is it woman honoring.Men, do you know what the Bible says about nurturing your wife??? It says, in I peter 3:7, to show honor to your wife? You are to honor your wife. I try to stay away from language that dishonors Alicia. Things like, she’s my old ball and chain. As if my life would be any better without being tied down to her.. no! Without her I wouldn’t be complete. She competes me, because through Christ, and sin Christ, we have been married to become one. Think about it… I chose to be married to her as she chose to be married to me. When Paul says, ”Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, Right off the bat, what is required? love is. And I’m not talking about the lustful love where its conditional. I’m talking about the agape love. The unconditional love only available through Jesus Christ. Why are you called to love your wife and Christ loved the church. Because Christ is going to verse 26, 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. I love this language. A husband that honors his wife, loves her as Christ would, and then seeks to point her to Christ. You’re role as a husband is to point her to Christ. SO when you see her imperfections, its not to be used as fuel to win arguments, but her imperfection are to be a means to desire to love her in such a way that you lead her to Christ in a lovingly way. And young men.. those of you unmarried. You’re role at this moment is not to find a perfect proverbs 31 woman, or even to find a woman and begin leading her.. you’re role right now, is to keep pursuing Christ yourself. You will never lead a woman if you’re not being led by Christ first.

My other favorite part about this verse is this, Jesus presents her to himself as a radiant church. Get this.. She’s a part of the body of the church. Gods words doesn’t give a woman any less honor than man. Both are made in the image of God, but yet, both must pursue Christ together. And its only through this pursuing Christ together, is when a couple can truly love one another…

Thats the church. Listen, you and I can never truly love one another unless we come to church pursing, and worshipping, and adoring Christ together. Because holiness isn’t rules and regulations, its relationship. Holiness is lived out within the body of Christ where the imperfect body of Christ worships a perfect Christ together. But Look at what Paul says, verse 28, Why do we love Christ together? 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. Did you hear that? husbands if you’re looking to love yourself, it begins by loving Christ, which in turn, he gives you the ability to love your wife. Remember, Hebrews 12 says, Let us keep looking to Jesus. And so men, don't stop looking to Jesus. Make Him your prize... Make Him your desire. When you treasure Christ above all else, you'll find the capacity to love your wife the way Christ loves the church - imperfections and all.

I want to end todays message by leading you ladies with three applications to becoming a proverbs 31 woman… The first one is this: Choose God’s ways at every opportunity. What I love about this is that it requires a person to walk in God presence. In the book of 1 John 1:7, we read, "But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.” Its looking to Jesus, trusting him and walking with him. Thats faith. Faith is stepping out into the unknown and trusting God. Even in those moments when you recognize your imperfections, remember that grace is sufficient for you. Proverbs 3:6 says, “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” This verse requires a two step process. Our part is to stop and acknowledge God along the way, and His part is to direct our paths. Its the same with Peter walking on water. His part was to keep his eyes on Jesus. That’s it. The waves, and the impossibilities around him, that was Jesus job to direct the path so that Peter could make it to him. The only thing Peter needed to do, was keep his eyes on Jesus.

Secondly, Commit yourself to God daily. Our devotion to God is strengthened when we offer Him a fresh commitment each day. I try to make it a habit to begin my day by laying my hand on my heart while in bed before I get out and saying, God, you’re welcomed here today. I learned that from another pastor friend of mine. A mentor of mine. Each morning what I’m doing is this, Im giving my life to God. I challenge you to do this. And heres the thing…. I guarantee it, it will be hard for you. For years you have taught yourself to lay in bed, dreading getting up, thinking about work and what the day holds, getting up and doing your routines… I guarantee it, it will be a hard habit to break. But what if you began each day by laying in bed and saying, God you’re welcome here. Today is going to be a day full of blessing and opportunity. I will bring you’re joy to others. Nurture the habit of placing the day before the Lord, and saying, it’s yours, place the things in your life in God’s loving hands to do with them what He will. Andrew Murray was helpful to me when we wrote those words: “God is ready to assume full responsibility for the life wholly yielded to Him.”

Lastly, Cultivate a hot heart of burning affection for God. A godly woman pursues to have a heart burning with adoration and affection for God. One of my favorite stories in the Bible is the Emaous road encounter. The woman came back and said Jesus has risen, and they didn’t believe. The men came back and said, he was not there, and they didn’t believe. There hearts were cold and Luke warm to the good news of the resurrection. And so, They were indifferent and unemotional to what what being said to them. So they turned and walked away. And in this walking away, Jesus comes up and walks with them but yet hey do not recognize him. A heart that is cold and even Luke warm wont recognize the presence of God. Ands, what these two people were doing was practicing self belief. They were not Christ centered. They had fallen into the trap that we all fall into sometimes.. A self centered hope. And so, Jesus comes up and begins telling them in the word of God, that points to him… Many times thats what needs to happen to many of us, to have a heart burning for affection for Christ, we need to be pointed to Christ by others seeking Christ. Because, listen, becoming holy as Christ is Holy can only go as far as we’re willing to surrender and focus on Jesus Christ. They were not making much of Jesus. And when they started to focus on Jesus.. they said to one another.. Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us? And did you know where they went? Back to the church. Back to the group, the body of Christ. I wanna believe, that when Jesus broke bread with them, he was reminding them of the body. You need to be with the body. You need to be with you’re brothers and sisters so that this affection can be fanned into flames… and it was… when they arrived, they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.”

And so, fanning into flames the faith and hope we have is first centered on Jesus, and then fanned by being in assembly together, where we encourage one another.

I pray, ladies, center yourself on Christ. Make much of being a part of the body of Christ. And become a woman, that is after God’s heart. And thats where you’ll find perfection. Amen? *

PC - Week 2 - Money and Treasure

I want to invite you to open your bibles with me to Lukes Gospel, and find with me chapter 12. Today, we’re going to continue our series called, Pursuing Carrots: The endless chase for more. And We’re examining, things in our life that we chase that do not bring us closer to God. Carrots are the things in our life that we chase and just when we think we’re gong to get it, its just out of our reach again, and we just keep pursuing these carrots that brings us no satisfaction.

And What we recognize is this: Life is full of endless lures. All around us are lures the world puts in our way or in front of us to say, come get this, go get that. And these lures lead us in these meaningless attempts to waste our time, money, resources, and even happiness. These things that we pursue never satisfy us, but we tend to fall for the carrot on a stick and chase after them, and sometimes we never realize how fruitless or vain our attempts are at getting that next thing.

Last week, we examined the carrot of fame and the danger it is to seek to have our name praised above GOd’s name. Today we’re going to examine the carrot of Money and possessions. What does to mean to be rich. Luke chapter 12, and find with me verse 13. 13 Someone from the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 “Friend,” he said to him, “who appointed me a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 He then told them, “Watch out and be on guard against all greed, because one’s life is not in the abundance of his possessions.” 16 Then he told them a parable: “A rich man’s land was very productive.

17 He thought to himself, ‘What should I do, since I don’t have anywhere to store my crops? 18 I will do this,’ he said. ‘I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones and store all my grain and my goods there. 19 Then I’ll say to myself, “You have many goods stored up for many years. Take it easy; eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.”’ 20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool!

This very night your life is demanded of you. And the things you have prepared—whose will they be?’ 21 “That’s how it is with the one who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” Prayer… Heavenly Father. We have many treasures in this world. Guide our hearts this morning to witness and reconize the greatest treasure of all, you… Help us to pursue you above all things in this life.

In the name of your son, Jesus… amen. Blind Spots. Everyone one of us have them. We put in a lot of miles in this weekend. we wanted to take Gabriel to Pittsburgh to check out this college for flight school. He wants to be a pilot and they had offered an open door opportunity to check out this community college that just got two brand new flight simulators. But on the way, theres traffic everywhere and of course, in every car there are blind spots where there can be someone beside you, and unless you actually take your eyes off of the road and look behind you, you can make the mistake of trying to merge into another lane where there is a car hidden from your sight.

And when You try to merge, they honk and they’re like you jerk, and I’d be like.. sorry. I didn’t see you. It’s amazing to me that in our car, we have two systems to help prevent accident with our blind spots. We have this little triangle in our side mirror that lights up when there is something present in your blind spot, and if you turn on your blinker, the second warning system they put in place when there is a car in your blind spot, our car will turn down the radio and give off a beeping warning sound letting me know there is someone beside me and it wont turn off until they are cleared.

And then its safe to merge into their lane. If you think about it, thats really true in our lives as well. There are blind spots in our life where we are deceived, and we don’t even know it. And heres a hard truth about that. Listen… There might be blind spots in your life that has deceive you and you don’t even know it, and only other people can see it in your life.

I was thinking about it this weekend as I was driving and chewing on this message. Other people can usually see blind spots in our lives more easily than we can. We need other people in our lives to help point out our blind spots to us. Let me show you what I mean… This Scripture that we read in chapter 12… we learn something from Jesus about blind spots in our life.

Look with me… again in chapter 12 and verse 13…. 13 Someone from the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” Now, look at how Jesus responds to this persons question. 14 “Friend.. I love that. I tend to call a lot of people friend when I come into contact with strangers. Friend,” he said to him, “who appointed me a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 He then told them, “Watch out and be on guard against all greed, because one’s life is not in the abundance of his possessions.” What was this persons blind spot?

It was greed. He wanted more. Have you ever noticed in a pursuit of being rich, we always want more. And if one would ask the question, what does it mean to be rich.. I would ask.. How rich is rich.. isn’t the answer always, well, its more. Its more than I have now. No one would say, Rich is having less. So, What is rich? Well, being rich seems to me to be a moving target.

Rich always means more than you have now. I remember being younger and thinking “If I could just cross this threshold of income that will be enough…” only to either get a new job, or to get a raise and when I crossed that threshold, it was never enough. The line moved again and then again, and then again and… every time I got more,.. the line moved, and I always needed more.

How much riches and material things do you need to be happy and satisfied? Most people would say “just a little bit more.” Thats what this person was doing.. they wanted just a little bit more. And What they needed wasn’t more, but a friend to look into their life and go, you have a blind spot. And what did Jesus say about this blind spot, and about the desire of more wealth?

He said, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” But there is something we recognize about the worlds perception of wealth. THE WORLD’S UNDERSTANDING OF BEING RICH MEANS TO HAVE MORE. This desire for more becomes a carrot being hung over our eyes. This never ending pursuit of more… this pursuit of, if I just get this next bit..

if I get more, my life will be different… but it doesn’t get different does it? It gets harder. For me, when I got more from my job , it also meant more responsibilities. More time away from my family. And this is how we think as American Christians. We are accustomed to think of wealth as a blessing. God is saying to us right now, “Wealth? Beware. Be on guard.

It’s dangerous to want more. Life doesn’t always consist of more things, more possessions.” It’s dangerous.. but is it bad? I don’t think so.. I mean, remember last week, fame wasn’t bad. It’s the same for wealth… Wealth isn’t bad. Abraham had great wealth, but he was counted as a man of faith. David had wealth. He was a king.. but he was a man after God’s own heart. So wealth isn’t bad, but it becomes bad when it becomes the primary focus if our pursuit.

And when you feel like you don’t have enough.. and that feeling of always wanting more, and never getting that satisfaction will cause fear and anxiety in our life. I’ll show you this here in a moment.. but before I do.. lets ask another question. What does this pursuit of more do to us? Well, Wealth leads to keeping more than you need. That’s what this person did in the parable.

Wealth can become an illusion that we are safe, and can bring a life of peace. This parable from verse 13-21 that Jesus told says, that this person was so abundant in their crops that they tore down their old smaller, barns and made larger ones… in hopes for what? Verse 19 says, to take it easy, eat, drink and enjoy yourself. The climax to what this person was doing is found in verse 21…

he was storing for himself treasures in the world, and not being rich towards God. Laying up treasures.. thats what we’re hearing. “Store it up so you can relax, eat, drink and be merry”—isn’t that what our culture exalts. This is success in our American culture. This is the dream for which we should live: make money, store it up, so that when you’re older you can relax, eat, drink and be merry.

That’s success in our culture. The world’s understanding of being rich means to have more, and to have comfort. Stock pile it.. and its hear this, it’s not bad to save.. thats not what I am saying… Proverbs 6:6-8 says, “Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.” In other words, God words says, it is wise and righteous to save and to do so as you’re able.

God was NOT mad at the guy because he was rich. God was not mad at the harvest. God was not mad at the barns being torn down and built bigger and better. God was not mad at the wealth. But judgment fell because the farmer was not rich in the things that mattered most – the things of God! And heres a truth.. the more we have the less we tend to ask God for.

I wrote in my journal this week, I’ve come to learn that the less I have the more desperate it makes me for God, and that is good. The lack of a sense of desperation for God, is so deadly to our faith… Don’t fall into that trap of not being desperate for God. Keep desperate for God.. And listen, If we are not desperate for God, we will be desperate for everything else in this world.

And when we become desperate to everything else in this world.. our natural tendency is to hoard it. To covet it. To desire it, to be desperate for it, and to keep it. Think about how powerful these words are… you have laid up treasures for yourself, you have stored up treasures for yourself, Do you See the self-centeredness here. You’re using your wealth to fill your heart’s desires. To take it easy, to eat and drink and enjoy yourself.

This person in this parable had little to no desire to do God’s work. James talks about this.. In James chapter 5 which talks about the warning to the rich oppressors.. he writes, It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure! We are living in the last days. Listen, Life is not guaranteed. You’re never guaranteed tomorrow. Life is precious! This could be today for any one of us.

Jesus could come back at any point. Jesus is saying, “You’re about to meet God and you’ve got all these resources that you’re wasting, that you’re holding on to, that you could have been using for good.” What does that have to do with others? Well think about it.. they too are living the last days just as we are. They’re about to meet God as well. Wealth leads to the neglect of others in need.

Just picture it… take a moment to think about this.. Jesus could come back at any moment. And right now, there are all of these people living today who have not heard the gospel. We think just because we live in this bubble of a country where we’re all in a Christian country, and everyone is saved its so wrong… people are dying everyday, babies are being born, everyday, the old is leaving and the new generation is coming..

there are new generations everyday that are being born into families that do not believe in the gospel. Right here in our own backyard. We have people all around us that do not know the gospel. And how will they come to know if there isn’t anyone taking it to them? And that takes resources. There are people in our own community that have not heard the truth of Christ. In our own country,.

Not to mention the other countries that need to hear it as well… In our storing of wealth, We could have gotten the gospel to them; we have the resources in the church to get the gospel to all of them. But we didn’t. Instead. we stored up more and as a result, we’re leaving them in an eternally dangerous position. So, Don’t miss the point here. Wealth in the hands of people wanting an easy life, leads to keeping more than they need.

Is there any evidence of that in your life? neglecting others in need? Is there evidence of this in your life? And if so.. lets ask.. How would we become rich towards God. How do we not store wealth for ourselves but we become rich towards God… Well first… it begins by examining our own hearts. Jesus tells us in the next section of chapter 12, in verse 34, for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Being rich towards God means you examine what you value. What you value points to what your heart desires. What do you value in life? I value my wife and kids, and my family. I value my own life. I value those close to me. Those I love, those I care about. Those I shepherd. But do I value others that I don’t know. Can I value the life of someone who’s a stranger, or even my enemy?

Can I value their life or do I put them in my blind spot. Out of sight out of mind.. right? We can't care for others if all we do is only care for ourselves and those we value. Micah 6:8, tells what God values – Mankind, he has told each of you what is good and what it is the Lord requires of you:. to act justly, to love faithfulness, and to walk humbly with your God.

In the New Testament we learn about the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:8). Why is this a value? Because The Lord … is not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). When we examine our wealth, we are confronted with a choice… what are you valuing. Most often when it comes to wealth.. money lies to us. If you lose me, you lose a very large part of your life.

If you lose me, you lose what life can be for you. I am your life. Do you realize how big I am? Life will be real life — truly life — if you have me.” That’s what the inheritance was saying to this person. Paul knew that’s what riches say. Which is why he told the rich in 1 Timothy 6:18–19, “Be rich in good works . . . be ready to share .

. . take hold of that which is truly life.” That leads me to the second truth I want to share, and its; l this.. Once we examine out hearts, make a choice. Will you live in fear and anxiety over your wealth, or peace and joy. Jesus in the next section, in chapter 12 verses 22 - 34 teaches us that there are two emotions that occur when we choose to worry about our wealth…

Look with me in verse 31… Do not be afraid, little flock. What is the threat in this verse? Jesus says, do not be afraid.. what is it that were being afraid over? Well, the answer is found in front and in the back of this verse. You can find the answer in either direction. If you go backwards to verse 30, they fear not being like other nations. They fear not being like the world, with wealth and possessions.

And if you go forward.. in verse 33, they fear giving away their possessions. Jesus says, don’t fear these things.. but seek what? The kingdom. Thats where the choice comes in… we need to make a choice on something we stop doing and something we start doing. We stop focusing our quest on things, and we start selling what we don’t need and turning our stockpiled resources into ministries of kingdom-bringing love.

That’s so the early church.. they would sell their possessions and land, and resources to further the gospel. And in doing this Jesus says we provide true treasure for ourselves in heaven. The cure for anxiety and fear is making a choice to let go of what we think is more valuable in this life, and pursuing what actually is of great value that is available to us right now… and that to be kingdom people.

I just want to ask you.. what kingdom are you building? I don’t want to live with this blind spot in my life. “I don’t want to live deceived anymore. God, I want to do, whatever you’re calling me to do.” I want what you want. And for us, as Christians, he’s calling us to go against the grain of the world.

To not fear losing what the world says is treasure. To not fear giving away things in our life to those in need. We all got to make major changes in how we give, how we use the wealth God has blessed us with. He knows what you need, he knows where your heart is. You will never regret trusting God with use of your possessions. And so, I want to end like this..

here are some questions to pray over as we close … God, how are you leading me to change my saving or spending patterns? God, how are you leading me to change the way I save and spend money? God, how are you leading me to give more to that which is eternal? God, how are you leading me to use the wealth I have on behalf of the poor and oppressed, spiritually and physically for the spread of the gospel and the care of people’s physical needs?

Ask yourself these questions… “How are you leading me to change my saving and spending patterns? How am I building my life on you… Do you know what it means to pursue the kingdom of God… it means falling in love with Jesus. That’s the path to the kingdom. It’s falling in love with the King. Prayer. *

Mother's Day

Before I begin, I just want to remind you, Mothers that before you leave, please make sure you grab a car bag from the church. Alicia has spent some time the past couples weeks seeking little special gifts and tokens of our appreciation for you, and she found these little bags with encouraging scriptures on them, and filled them with hand creams, and some facial masks, and other little things to remind you of how much we love you here at Momentum Church.

Today, I want us to hear, God’s word together specifically to and about woman. I use the word woman, because I know many families that struggle to have children. And so, there are a lot of women in our midst that struggles with days like today, because with all of their hearts, they want to have children. And for whatever reason, days like today are a struggle for many of them.

And so, this day isn’t just one of joy, but also I want to acknowledge that theres hurt on this day too. I want to be sensitive to their needs and hearts too. And so, I want to spend some time today, speaking on womanhood, and how special it is for godly woman to be in our midst, and to be caring and loving wives, and girlfriends, or just friends. How amazing it is that God has blessed us with women to show his love to us in unique ways.

I always like asking this question, who his greater, man or woman? And the answer is this, man is far more superior than a woman, at being a man. And a woman is far more superior than a man, at being a woman. And its true, God has created man and woman in his image, to reflect his glory, and his mercy and his grace, in unique ways, that are specific to their genders.

That’s the beauty of Genesis chapter 1 where God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the sea and over the birds of heaven, and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on earth. So, God created man in his own image, and in the image of God, he created him; male and female he created them.

When I read this verse, I am usually zeroed in on the fact that God uses this word created, three times. It’s this Hebrew word Called, Bara… it means to be shaped and created. It’s as if, God is making a point here. He created, he created, he created them.. So I hope you hear and understand what the texts is saying… you’ve been a shaped and created by God. For what?

And why? Well, in the midst of this creation, you’ve been created in the very image of God. And the word says, he blessed them. I don’t know who needs to hear this, but you as a woman, you are a blessing. Not as an hindrance. You’re not a created being, that has no calling or purpose or part in God's divine plan.. you are a blessing. And so, the first stop on our journey today is this: You are uniquely honored and created in the image of God.

You’re honored and created in the image of God. And that’s such an important point to make to all women listening today because that means theres an identity that is valuable, and honored, and loved, and cherished. You’re dignified. You deserve a place of honor. And lets just take a moment to let that sink in… You’re not dignified by what the world says about women. You’re dignity is not dependent upon your career, or martial status or any other woman's or mans opinion - and even your own opinion for that matter.

Listen, ladies, could it be possible that you do not see yourself as a honored woman of God? I would say, yes. It is possible. Theres so many things out there trying and competing for your attention, and often times we can believe what others say…. But the truth from God’s perspective is that, you are created by God , and God says, you are to be blessed because of the image you bear.

Because you are made, in his image. In the very image of God, who created you. What a blessing that is to know. And, yet I am saddened. Because I know this world has such a horrible thought, and image of what a woman should be, and shouldn’t be. The world goes to so much effort to make you believe that you’re only worth something if you’re physically beautiful, and our culture is screaming in thousands of ways, buy this and do that to enhance your image.

Thousands of dollars and thousands of hours by businesses and the entertainment industry go into making sure they convince woman of all ages their need for esteem and fulfillment and significance is to look and feel a certain way. Just the other day, I was watching the national news and Miss USA resigned her position because they were subjecting her to things that were against her own morals and standards. And SO the world says, phycosal beauty is to be honored, or promiscuousness is desired.

And when you’re neither of those things, the world would claim that you’re undesirable. But that has nothing to do with what Gods word says about women.. God’s word in proverbs 31 lays out this amazing, I dunno.. Maybe road map… or glimpse, or maybe engourbment to live up to about a Woman's image that is honoring, and loving and cherishing, and faithful.. is and the weird thing, is that in this proverb for women, it mentions nothing about beauty.

I’ve asked one of our women to come up and read for us these verses… and I would like for all of us, even men, to Listen to what this proverbs says that a good honorable woman looks like.. Nothing about physical beauty… but we do read about being a good cook, Amen, right? and a good manager of her home, and how wonderful she is with being a good wife.

She’s a homemaker, and cares for her kids, She gets up before everyone, and never lets the lamp burn out, and she’s confident and humble, and a servant leader. She’s strong, and even a good business woman, making deals and buying property for the benefit of her family. And on top of all of that.. she’s compassionate, and gives to the poor. Doesn’t this woman sound like wonder woman? Like she’s a super woman.

Like who can compete with a woman like that? Or most would say, she’s all that and a bag of potato chips?… hahaha… But heres the thing.. I can only imagine, a woman, reading or hearing this list of what a good godly christlike woman is to be like, and thinking, how perfect this woman is…. And then I would read or listen to that and go, how in the world is that possible for me.

There is no way I can be like that. And you can read this passage and be more discouraged or tempted to say, I will never become worthy of being a godly woman, because the requirements are impossible. And then think of the men listening and reading it… because. single men can look upon this verse and have almost an unrealistic perception on what a woman should be like. So, On one hand, you may have a woman saying I can never be that kind of perfect woman, and on the other hand, have a man saying, “I want to find a wife whose perfect like that.” And so it’s like you have two people so far apart because they both are looking in the wrong direction for love.

One feels unequipped and not enough, and another setting a high standard that could be unachievable, and both looking in the wrong direction for identity. Then I think of married men and woman.. On one hand, a married woman can look at all of those characteristics and go, “I don’t even know how that is even possible.” I think of Alicia saying…. I have three kids, and two dogs, and two ducks, and 8 chickens care for, and on top of that, my husband is working two or more jobs to keep food on our table.

Sometimes she might not get to all the laundry, or cleaning, or anything.. and maybe sometimes she may go, “I feel like I’m failing as a wife.” Where would I even begin?, so that I too can be a proverbs 31 perfect wonder woman? I just wonder if married women would read this and say, ”I feel like its impossible in todays culture.” Especially for woman that work to provide a second income for the family.

And then on the other hand, married men can so easily look upon this verse and say, “I wish my wife was like that. I wish she was this perfect woman who loved me and our family just like this woman in proverbs 31.” And the truth to whether or not your single or married, man or woman, … we know all of these are actually an unhealthy responses to this picture of womanhood in God’s word.

Because this proverb isn’t about a woman pursing perfection and a man seeking a woman that’s living in perfection, as much as its about giving us a picture of what we often lack when it comes to perfection. Right? We’re not perfect people. Amen? Maybe someone needs to hear that. Regardless of what you think.. no one is perfect. So Listen, you are imperfect. You have sinned against God. And because of this sin, you are separated from God as a result.

Men and woman alike, you are imperfect, and God in his infinite perfect love is pursuing you. Like a husband pursues a wife, Christ loves and pursues the church. And I always find it amazing that Jesus never seeks the perfect bride at first, he seeks the most imperfect bride to begin a relationship with. It’s like he looks to his bride and says, its not who you are now, but who you will become when we are together.

And To think, Christs loves me… in my imperfections, and he pursues me with all my quirks and shortcomings and failures. He loves me. That encourages me. And so, Jesus calls me to himself. And I become a part of the church which is made up of imperfect men and woman seeking a perfect Christ together. That’s why Jesus went too the cross. Perfection needed to start somewhere. And it begins with the love that was shown by Jesus on the cross’s and us coming to him by faith.

Friends, our imperfections are made perfect in Christ who becomes the author and perfecter of our faith. Right, so when we read proverbs 31, it’s ok to recognize our imperfection. As followers of Christ, we don’t look to Christ and go, Man, I’m so discouraged by His perfection. No, we’re encouraged! Thats what we desire as holy people… we say boldly, we treasure Christ. We don’t go, I will never be like Jesus…

No, we look to Christ and we go, each day, I pursue less of me, and more of him in my life. Im going to live this day presenting myself as a Holy sacrifice. And so what I’m saying is this, we’re not perfect, but were being perfected in Christ. It’s a journey that requires a relationship. We come along side of Paul and say, If there is any good in me its Christ in me.

And so, I guess what I am saying is this.. proverbs 31 isn’t about what you do to be a perfect woman, but who you look to who’s perfecting you from the inside out. And so ladies, who are you looking to? The world? Or the living word? Hebrews 12:1-2 says, Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

And men… Can I just side step here and say something to you… In know were here to honor women today, but I just want to mention you for a moment. Don’t listen or read proverbs 31 and go.. yeah, you need to be this christlike wonder woman… because proverbs 31 isn’t a Scripture just for women, but for men as well. This proverb should enougrage you to say, I want to lead my wife and nurture her into being a christlike wife, or woman like that\.

And I think its so easy for men to read something like proverbs 31 and say things like, well hunny, you better get to work, because you are far form being a proverbs 31 woman. And that kind of language is not God honoring, nor is it woman honoring. Men, do you know what the Bible says about nurturing your wife??? It says, in I peter 3:7, to show honor to your wife?

You are to honor your wife. I try to stay away from language that dishonors Alicia. Things like, she’s my old ball and chain. As if my life would be any better without being tied down. I chose to be married to her as she chose to be married to me. How do you honor your wife? Listen to the words from God in Ephesians 5:25-28 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her Right off the bat, love is required.

And I’m not talking about the lustful love where its conditional. Im talking about the agape love. The unconditional love only available through Jesus Christ. Why are you called o love your wife and Christ loved the church. Because Christ is going to,, verse 26, 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.

I love this language. A husband that honors his wife, loves her as Christ would, and then seeks to point her to Christ. You’re role as a husband is to point her to Christ. SO when you see her imperfections, its not to be used as fuel to win arguments, but her imperfection are to be a means to desire to love her in such a way that you lead her to Christ in a lovingly way.

And young men.. those of you unmarried. You’re role at this moment is not to find a perfect woman, or even to find a woman and begin leading her.. you’re role right now, is to keep pursuing Christ yourself. My other favorite part about this verse is this, Jesus presents her to himself as a radiant church. She’s a part of the body of the church. Gods words doesn’t give a woman any less honor than man.

Both are made in the image of God, but yet, both must pursue Christ together. And its only through this pursuing Christ together, is when a couple can truly love one another… Thats the church. Listen, you and I can never truly love one another unless we come to church pursing, and worshipping, and adoring Christ together. Because holiness isn’t rules and regulations, its relationship. Holiness is lived out within the body of Christ where the imperfect body of Christ worships a perfect Christ together.

But Look at what Paul says, verse 28, Why do we love Christ together? 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. Did you hear that? husbands if you’re looking to love yourself, it begins by loving Christ, and loving your wife. Is that not what the Bible teaches us? To love God with all of our being, and to love others as ourselves?

Once, you take your eyes off of Christ, you will not be able to love your wife, or yourself… because all you will see is hers and your imperfections. And this is such a pandemic in our world today, because we’re created people, made in God’s image that sin within us marks Gods image and we never see ourselves where we want to be, we’re struggling to love ourselves and in this struggle if we cant love ourselves, we cant love others.

Remember, Hebrews 12 says, Let us keep looking to Jesus. And so men, don’t stop looking to Jesus. I want to end todays message by leading you ladies with three applications to becoming a proverbs 31 woman… The first one is this: Choose God’s ways at every opportunity. What I love about this is that it requires a person to walk in God presence. In the book of 1 John 1:7, we read, "But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.” Its looking to Jesus, trusting him and walking with him.

Thats faith. Faith is stepping out into the unknown and trusting God. Even in those moments when you recognize your imperfections, remember that grace is sufficient for you. Proverbs 3:6 says, “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” This verse requires a two step process. Our part is to stop and acknowledge God along the way, and His part is to direct our paths. Its the same with Peter walking on water.

His part was to keep his eyes on Jesus. That’s it. The waves, and the impossibilities around him, that was Jesus job t direct the path so that Peter could make it to him. The only thing Peter needed to do, was keep his eyes on Jesus. Secondly, Commit yourself to God daily. Our devotion to God is strengthened when we offer Him a fresh commitment each day. I begin my day by laying my hand on my heart while in bed before I get out and saying, God, you’re welcomed here today.

I learned that from another pastor friend of mine. A mentor of mine. Each morning what I’m doing is this, Im giving my life to God. I challenge you to do this. And heres the thing…. I guarantee it, it will be hard for you. For years you have taught yourself to lay in bed, dreading getting up, thinking about work and what the day holds, getting up and doing your routines…

I guarantee it, it will be a hard habit to break. BUt what if you began each day by laying in bed and saying, God you’re welcome here. Today is going to be a day full of blessing and opportunity. I will bring you’re joy to others. Nurture the habit of placing the day before the Lord, and saying, it’s yours, place the things in your life in God’s loving hands to do with them what He will.

Andrew Murray was helpful to me when we wrote those words: “God is ready to assume full responsibility for the life wholly yielded to Him.” Lastly, Cultivate a hot heart of burning affection. A godly woman pursues to have a heart burning with adoration and affection for God. One of my favorite stories in the Bible is the Emaous road encounter. The woman came back and said Jesus has risen, and they didn’t believe.

The men came back and said, he was not there, and they didn’t believe. There hearts were cold and Luke warm to the good news of the resurrection. And so, They were indifferent and unemotional to what what being said to them. So they turned and walked away. And in this walking away, Jesus comes up and walks with them but yet hey do not recognize him. A heart that is cold and even Luke warm wont recognize the presence of God.

Ands, what these two people were doing was practicing self belief. They were not Christ centered. They had fallen into the trap that we all fall into sometimes.. A self centered hope. And so, Jesus comes up and begins telling them in the word of God, that points to him… Many times thats what needs to happen to many of us, to have a heart burning for affection for Christ, we need to be pointed to Christ by others seeking Christ.

Because, listen, becoming holy as Christ is Holy can only go as far as we’re willing to surrender and focus on Jesus Christ. They were not making much of Jesus. And when they started to focus on Jesus.. they said to one another.. Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us? And did you know where they went?

Back to the church. Back to the group, the body of Christ. I wanna believe, that when Jesus broke bread with them, he was reminding them of the body. You need to be with the body. You need to be with you’re brothers and sisters so that this affection can be fanned into flames… and it was… when they arrived, they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, “It is true!

The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” And so, fanning into flames the faith and hope we have is first centered on Jesus, and then fanned by being in assembly together, where we encourage one another. I pray, ladies, center yourself on Christ. Make much of being a part of the body of Christ. And become a woman, that is after God’s heart. And thats where you’ll find perfection.

Amen? *

I Am Light

I want to invite you to open your Bibles with me to Isaiah chapter 9, and then we'll move to John chapter 8 for our I AM statement. Isaiah is a really cool book. It’s what we call a prophetic book. It’s about proclaiming. It proclaims truth. It proclaims consequences. And it proclaims the future. And when we read this book, Isiah is writing about the dark days of Israel. What I mean is that there is not much going on thats good for the people of God. Think about all the things they’ve witnessed through their tradition and history. Their not marching out of Slavery, or Egypt. THere not seeing walls fall down like Jerico They’re not conquering lands as they walk into the promised land singing songs of praise. The glory days of King David a man who loved God with all of his heart, and the richness of his son Solomon ruling with wisdom are no longer in the picture. Their economy, isn’t expanding but shrinking. They have gone through a civil war as a nation and at the end of it all they didn’t stay unified, but ended up splitting into two kingdoms, the north and the south. A conquering king named Tiglith Palesar has just absorbed the northern kingdom. Now, in the southern kingdom, Judah is depressed, insecure about their existence.. they are experiencing external decay. But not only is their world externally decaying, but there is even internal decay as well. Think about their religious life as God’s chosen people… They have given up rituals that prioritized and celebrated God, they have given these rituals up for self-serving practices. So what that means is they kind of made church about themselves. And so, in the midst of all of this external and internal decay, watching the northern kingdom fall, the first 8 chapters of Isaiah reflect nothing but desperate and dark days. Even a few chapters before chapter 9, we read in Chapter 6: “The day King Uzziah died….Their safety net of wise leadership is gone… And so, Isaiah, in the midst of all of these dark and desperate days, he begins to tell them, or prophesying, the truth about the internal and external decay. And what he’s doing is speaking to the southern nation about the consequences of the activities that they are indulging in, and the coming invasion from the Assyrians. But, in the heart of this message that he is giving, theres an announcement of hope. IN chapter 9, after all the doom and gloom of the truth of whats going on and going to happen, Isaiah makes this announcement. Look in verse two with me… it says, The people walking in darkness; have seen such a great light; a light has dawned on those living in the land of darkness. Amen, right? Internal and external decay. People being carried off into a different life. The temple laying in ruins and the city of Jerusalem ransacked, and destroyed. Only the poorest, and the lame, and the remnants left behind to live out a life of total survival. But In the midst of all of that darkness.. Isaiah gives this message of hope… those walking in darkness have seen a great light. What is this great light? Well.. its a baby announcement. Look with me in verse 6… For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us. Thats a 700+ year old baby announcement. And its right before Jesus would show up on the scene. Do you know what happens when a baby shows up on the scene? ….. Theres a buzz. Right? There excitement. There is this long awaited anticipation, and expectation, and of course… all the waiting. When anyone is waiting for a baby, theres this feeling of new hope, New life, new beginnings and of course, the laughter that comes with watching all the coos and funny things the baby does. Anyone who has had a child, or knows a child, or been a part of a little babies life, knows the crazy things that you do… you do things you would have never imagined: You’re speech changes… For whatever reason.. you begin speaking in third person.. daddy loves you.. Oh yes he does. Goo goo ga ga… Then theres the funny faces that you make… Especially while playing peek a boo. For the first time in your begin to become obsessed with human waste. Right? First its trying to catch it before it goes everywhere. And then.. the task of learning how to dispose of it.

When Alicia and I had our kids, I also noticed that our focus changed.

Being in love, and getting married and having kids, changed my focus… and they became the object of my focus. To provide for them. To love them. To correct them… I mean the kids not my wife… I’ve been married along enough t know I don’t correct my wife. But having kids and teaching them and watching them grow, I think any parent would say, it was grueling work. After the birth, the stitches, and staples, and glue and duct tape were needed to put Alicia back together. When each of them were born… I had the pleasure of watching the euphoria in the tears of seeing her meet our kids for the first time. Because for us… For to us, a child had been born. And you know what… with all the darkness and struggles, and financial strain we had, and what was to come after having our first kid… Hope was injected into our life. New life… new possibilities. New ways of doing things. And just when we think life is getting hard again, trying to raise one kid… Unto us a child is born… Chloe comes onto the scene… And it was the same with Abby… just when things seemed hard, and during this hard season we were losing our home and had to move… and we moved, and guess what… bam… Hope for a third time is injected into our lives.

This is what God was announcing to Israel. In spite of the darkness around you…… Unto you a child will be born. And to top it all off… if you know the Scripture and you look in verse 6 again.. God even goes on to list the differences the changes that “this child” particularly will deliver… Its not just any child… but “The” Child… the Messiah. Israel calls him, “Light” in the darkness. A name that we see come true in the book of John. A name that brings much hope. Now, let's fast forward 700 years from Isaiah's birth announcement in John Chapter 8. Remember all that darkness Isaiah was talking about? The internal decay, the external threats, the feeling that everything was falling apart? That was still the life going on for the people of the world. Jesus steps into darkness,.. the same darkness that we live in. Think about that… Jesus steps into that same kind of darkness we experience in this life and he says something amazing in chapter 8, verse 12… HEY SAYS, , I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life. You know what amazes me about this? Jesus doesn't just speak about the light from a distance. He doesn't send a message from heaven saying "Hey, hang in there Matthew, Don’t worry… hang on… light is coming! No - He steps right into our mess. Right into our broken relationships. Right into our financial struggles. Right into our doubts and fears. And when He steps in, He doesn't just bring a flashlight to help us see our way through the darkness. He says "I AM the light." Present tense. Right here. Right now This is too amazing to me. Because in all honesty… its a moment in our faith where Jesus says.. stop focusing on the darkness… stop focusing on all the things around you… just focus on me in the midst of your darkness. Think about this with me for a moment. What's the first thing God ever said in the Bible? "Let there be light." And what's the first thing Jesus says about Himself in our passage? "I am that light." This isn't a coincidence, church. This is God saying, "Just as I spoke light into the darkness at creation, when you come to faith in Christ alone, by faith alone, He, meaning Jesus becomes our light… And, Do you know what's fascinating about light? Even the smallest amount changes everything about darkness. You can be in the darkest room of your house, and just one tiny crack of light under the door changes everything. Now, get this… When light touches something, it doesn't just partially illuminate it. Light is all or nothing. That's why Jesus doesn't say "I'll help you see a little better" or "I'll give you some guidelines to follow." He says "Whoever follows me will NEVER walk in darkness.” Ya know.. I love that phrase all or nothing… Think about your faith right now…. Are you all or nothing when it comes to your faith? When we talk about sanctification… ya know that big word… to be holy as he is holy… to be entirely sanctified… do you know what it means… in a simple and gentle way, it means this… Relationship. Faithful relationship. And all in to the other person. It means Christ and I become one. We’ve been bonded, and a union has taken place. My life is surrendered to him, and he becomes my life. It's like marriage in a way. When Alicia and I got married, there wasn't a "kind of married" option. There wasn't a "married on Tuesdays and Thursdays" choice. It was all or nothing. There is no 50/50 in our marriage. She gives all of herself to me, and I give all of myself to her. And we become one. That's what Jesus is talking about here. Everything that belongs to one person becomes available to the other. When the light of Christ, enters our lives, it's not just a spotlight showing us where to walk - it's a complete transformation of our life. Where I go he is, where he is, I want to be. We’re one. But what prevents us from leaving our darkness and walking in light?

Fear…. Let’s be honest. we’re afraid to step out of the norm. We’re afraid of change. Fear is an emotion caused by the belief that something or someone poses a threat to us. Who poses a threat to us… to our way of life? Well, God does. I know this first hand. When I was in college I was invited to a church by a girl. I didn’t want to be there. God was a threat to my way of life, and how he wanted me to live my life. When we hear things like, “God wants to bring to light your sin, and he wants to invade your hearts. That didn’t sound appealing to me. When I am the Lord of my own heart, that’s the kind of language that’s threatening. You want to expose my sin? You want to change me? Whats wrong with who I am? But yet, here’s the reality I never realized… I was allowing my sinfulness to rule my life and it was keeping me trapped while I lived my life in darkness. Because I was in love with my darkness! I was in love with my sin. Jesus put it like this when he was describing his own coming : “This is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed”

Our problem is not that we don’t have light, our problem is that we love the darkness. We love it. We love it because we believe it protects us. It shrouds our life in mystery and hides our wrongs. And my entire life before Christ came into my life, I was comfortable with it… and anytime, or anyone that tried to change my mind, they were a threat. And I let fear rule my life.

You know, when we talk about fear, we're not just talking about being afraid of the dark or scared of spiders. There are deeper fears that can keep us from experiencing God's light in our lives. Theres two fears in particular that I see holding many of us back. The first one is the fear of intimacy - real intimacy. I'm talking about truly knowing and being known by God and others. This kind of intimacy takes time. When I think about this, I always think about my relationship with Alicia. We've been married for 19 years, and I love her more today than I did back then. Why? Because true intimacy takes time, and effort, and a whole lot of understanding, and trust me - it takes a whole lot of grace and forgiveness from both people. But Our love has grown because we've both made intentional choices to know each other deeper. Even when I'm exhausted, even when I'm tired, there's this strength that comes from wanting to be close to her, to care for her and our family. That's what real intimacy looks like. And you know what? That's exactly what God desires to have with us. When Jesus says "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength" - that's intimacy. It's not just following rules or showing up to church. It's about a deep, personal relationship. Listen churhc, Fear either drives us toward God or away from Him - there's no middle ground

But here's the second fear, and in some ways, it's the opposite of intimacy - it's the fear of rejection.

I wrote something in my journal a couple years ago that I keep coming back to: "The hardest part of living a life of rejection is when you begin to believe that the addiction to man's acceptance and approval is normal. You and I can become very easily starved for acceptance and approval form others. Think about it - we count our social media likes, we measure how many people show up to our events, \ we compare our friend count with others. We get so hungry for approval that it becomes like a drug. And just like any addiction, it becomes a prison for our minds. That's an unhealthy way of living. And if left unchecked, approval of others can become a drug that we become addicted to. Think about this - humans are the only beings on this planet that seek out and long for the approval of others. And yet, we fear being rejected by them.

This addiction to approval reveals something profound about fear itself - fear can very easily become the enemy of our faith. But here's where we need to make an important distinction. You see, not all fear is created equal. The Bible actually teaches us about a good kind of fear - what we call 'the fear of the Lord.' This holy fear is completely different from the kind of fear that paralyzes us. In fact, Proverbs puts these two fears in direct contrast. It says, 'Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe' (Proverbs 29:25). Do you see the difference? One fear traps us; the other frees us."

V Jesus tells us, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’ What Jesus is teaching us here is amazing: darkness can only overcome us when we CHOOSE to love our darkness more than we love God. Think about that - it's always a choice. Even in our most fearful moments, we're choosing what to love. And here's where fear comes in - the kind of fear the world offers actually prevents us from loving God rightly. We see this play out beautifully in Scripture. There’s this amazing story in Exodus. Listen to this - chapter 20, verses 20-21: 'Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning." The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.’ Did you catch what happened there? The same fear that made everyone else step back made Moses step forward. Same God, same darkness, different response. Was Moses afraid? I'm sure he was. But his fear was different. Look at his words again: 'Do not be afraid... so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.’ Do you get what he's saying? Don't love your darkness more than your salvation. Don't choose the familiar shadows over God's transforming light. And this points us straight to Jesus. Because none of us can perfectly obey God's law - we need Jesus to cover our sin, our disobedience. That's exactly what He did at the cross. He paid the price for us. Died in our place. Rose again in victory. And now we're saved not by perfectly following rules, but by trusting in Him."

A people that was once walking in darkness has now seen a great light. This truth changes everything for us! - when we put our trust in Jesus, we no longer need to fear God's judgment. Our relationship with Him becomes marked by love instead of fear. Let me explain it this way... My mother is the closest thing to a father I've ever had. My love for her runs so deep that I never want to see her hurt or disappointed. Growing up - and some of you might remember this - I was part of that generation where you had to 'Go pick out your own switch.' But here's what I didn't understand until I had my own kids: it wasn't just the fear of punishment that hurt. Deep down in my heart, what really scared me was the thought of breaking her heart - because I love her that much. That's exactly what Moses understood about the fear of God. It's not about being terrified of hellfire - it's about loving God so much that what scares us most is the thought of being separated from His presence. You see, this is what entire sanctification looks like - when our fear of going to hell transforms into a fear of being separated from the One who loved us enough to step into our darkness. It's not about rules anymore - it's about relationship.

But here's the beautiful thing - even when we fail, even when we miss the mark, God's grace is sufficient. Through Jesus, we have the light of life tomorrow guide us back into God’s loving embrace As Paul tells the Corinthians, "God, who said 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made his light shine in our hearts" (2 Corinthians 4:6). Jesus is literally the "radiance of God's glory" (Hebrews 1:3). He's not just bringing light - He IS our light. The true light of this world. And He makes us this amazing promise - if you turn to Him, and you won't walk in darkness anymore. Instead, God puts His very Spirit within us, allowing us to cry out "Abba, Father" (Galatians 4:6).

His very presence is within you! As Peter comes forward… and we come to our conclusion… I want to ask… do you you know what's amazing? The same God who said 'Let there be light' at creation, who was the light Moses approached in the darkness, who spoke of the light to come through Isaiah, who came as light through Jesus - who says, I will place the Spirit of my sin within you, that same God now says to us, 'You are the light of the world' (Matthew 5:14). Think about that for a moment. We're not just recipients of the light - we're carriers of it. We’re carriers of the very presence of GOd. We’re carries of this hope that we have in Christ. When Jesus says in the beatitudes, 'You are the light of the world,' He's not giving us a suggestion or a goal to reach for - He's telling us who we already are in Him. He’s giving us an identity. An extension of himself… we get to share him with others.

This advent season, where we celebrate the Light coming into the world, I want to leave you with this thought. We're not just celebrating what happened 2000 years ago. We're not just remembering a historical moment. We're living in the reality of what that light does in us today. When Jesus said "I am the light of the world," that wasn't the end of the story. Because now, that same light lives in you. Think about that - the light that spoke galaxies into existence, the light that Moses approached in the darkness, the light that came as a baby in a manger - that light now lives in you. Remember how we started? Those people walking in darkness who saw a great light? That's not just their story - it's your story too. And now, you get to be that light for someone else who's walking in darkness. So here's my challenge to you as we enter this advent season: Be light. And Go shine. But listen carefully - this isn't about mustering up your own strength or trying to generate your own light. This is about the reality that His light already lives in you, by faith, in Christ. You're not just a carrier of light - you're a sanctuary of His presence. What does this look like tangibly? Be light in your waiting - when others are rushing, let your peace shine Be light in your worship - when others are stressing, let your joy shine Be light in your witness - when others are searching, let your hope shine Maybe it's opening your Christmas table to someone who would otherwise eat alone. Maybe it's noticing the person at work whose smile doesn't quite reach their eyes. Maybe it's being the one who stops, listens, and shines hope into someone else's darkness.

Do me a favor.. if you have a smart phone, could you take out your phone and open up the camera app…. Do you have it open… now hit that button that turns the camera around to where you can see yourself. Now, smile… and Take a picture. Do you have it… now put that in a text message and send it to the number on the screen. Church, do you want to to know what hope looks like in our dark world? It looks like you… It looks like you, carrying His light into every situation you face It looks like you, choosing to shine even when fear tells you to hide It looks like you, being the hope that someone else needs Remember what Jesus said about light under a bushel? It's meant to be seen. And this Advent season, our world desperately needs to see it. So church, be light. Go shine. Because the hope you carry isn't just for you - it's for every heart still walking in darkness. The light has come. The light is here. the light lives in you. And now, go share that light with the world.” Be light and go shine.

Let's pray… Father God, we thank you that you are the God who speaks light into darkness. Thank you that even when we loved our darkness, you didn't leave us there. You sent your Son, Jesus, to be the light of the world. Lord, we confess that sometimes we let our fears keep us from stepping into your light. Sometimes we choose to stay in familiar darkness rather than trust in your transforming presence. Forgive us, Father. Thank you that through Jesus, you've made us carriers of your light. Help us not to hide that light, but to shine boldly in a world that desperately needs hope. Give us courage like Moses to step toward you, even when others step back. As we enter this advent season, remind us daily that your light lives in us. Help us to be the hope that others need. Let your light shine so brightly through us that others can't help but see you. In Jesus's name, Amen. Benediction: May the God who said "Let light shine out of darkness" fill you with His presence. May the Christ who is the light of the world guide your every step. May the Holy Spirit empower you to be light in every dark place you enter. And may you go forth to shine with the confidence that where His light is, darkness cannot stay. Now go, be light, and shine with the hope of Christ. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. *

Approval

I want to invite you to open you bibles with me to Galatians chapter 1 We’re in a series called, “Pursuing Carrots.” The endless chase for more. And We’re examining, things in our life that we chase that do not bring us closer to God. Carrots are the things in our life that we chase and just when we think we’re gong to get it, its just out of our reach again, and we just keep pursuing these carrots that brings us no satisfaction.

And What we recognize is this: Life is full of endless lures. All around us are lures the world puts in our way or in front of us to say, come get this, go get that. And these lures lead us in these meaningless attempts to waste our time, money, resources, and even happiness. These things that we pursue never satisfy us, but we tend to fall for the carrot on a stick and chase after them, and sometimes we never realize how fruitless or vain our attempts are at trying to get that next thing.

Thus far we’ve heard about he carrot of Fame, Money and possessions and seeking the carrot of perfection. Today, I want to examine the carrot of seeking approval. Let’s begin by reading our Scripture. Galatians chapter 1. Galatians chapter 1… and look with me to verse 10. "10 Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Heavenly Father, guide our hearts to find our uttermost satisfaction in you, and in you alone.

How many of you might care too much about what others think? I know I do.. and I dunno about you, but even being honest in this moment I can sense even in my own heart, that I am worrying about what you thought about me caring to much about what you think. And what I’ve been learning about the approval carrot, is that it can very easily become an addiction.

Think about this, We all have a deep need to be liked, respected, admired and approved of. Everyone of us. And in our quest for this recognition, we often behave in a certain way to impress others and to win their appreciation, we even go as far as telling lies to gain the approval from others. Because when it comes to the feeling of rejection, I think we’re all willing to stretch the truth about our life so that we can make sure that we fit in.

We’ve seen this pattern emerge since birth. For instance, when it comes to pleasing others, and seeking acceptance, Many people-pleasers have grown up in environments where love and acceptance were conditional upon their ability to conform to other peoples expectations of them. I can remember when I was younger, around 10-12 years old, I used to go to work with my mom at the Jackson mill restaurant, and while she was waitressing there, I would walk across the street to the 4-H grounds and go over to the cattle barns in the fall and watch all the cows at the local cattle shows, and I recognized, that if I was kind, and hard working, and gave others respect, they would say kind things about me to my mother when they came over for a meal at the restaurant.

Ultimately, there was a desire for this external approval that I craved. It goes a lot deeper but there was this desperation for approval, and I became addicted to finding ways to find external approval from others. Author Harriet Braiker writes in her book “The disease to please,” that people-pleasing is a form of addiction. She writes, Just like a drug addict seeks drugs, people pleasers seek approval. So, theres a problem…

when this addiction of seeking approval settles into our life, and it becomes an ingrained habit, it opens up this avenue to live our life in fear and anxiety. And what we do is that we try to validate our lives through the approval we get from others. And heres three problem areas of those who seek approval from others… First, theres the obsession about what others think. Think of all the ways we obsess about what others think about us….

Do they like this outfit? Would they like my choice of music. What about how I live? Do they like my car and my home? What about social status? Do I fit in with them? Do I dress like them. Do I like what they like, and if I like something different, would they still accept me for me? Or willing to need to hide my true feelings about this kind of music.

What about our bodies? Would they like my hair if I did something different? Do I look fat in this outfit? I always cringe over this one because I struggle with that one. Now think about this. How much does the opinion of others influence what you do and what you say? And if something says something against or different what you believe, are you willing to hide or conceal it to fit in?

This moves us into the second issue with seeking approval and people pleasing. Another problem area for people pleasers is that People pleasers are often overly sensitive to criticism. Maybe you get some negative feedback from your boss, and now you want to quit. I’ve been there. I’ll never forget one of my reviews in the lab when we lived in Colorado and my boss brought me in for my yearly review and I know I worked more hours than anyone, I volunteered more than anyone to come into work, and made myself available to be a team player.

And in my review I felt I was going to get exceeded expectation. With that, you get a better raise. I had a family to support, Gabe was just a year old, Alicia was pregnant with Chloe, and I’m called into my managers office and she tells me all the things she loves about may work ethic and being a team player, and she’s so glad I was there and have made such great advances in growing as an employee, and the only negative remark she gave me was this…

that I was an over zealous worker. I was too gun ho about my job. I was too positive. And for that, instead of exceeding expectations, I got met expectations. That one negative remark made me feel like that all of my work, and sacrifice was worthless. Its amazing to me how we can get 100 positive encouragements from others, and compliments, but just one negative remark is the one that we tend to focus on.

This one criticism stems from a fear of being rejected. Thats the trap of this carrot of approval… thats the snare. That is how the carrot works… if 100% of people do not agree, like, love, approve… then I am a failure. I must have complete 100% approval from every one or else I’m a failure and I feel rejected. And Because we are overly sensitive to criticism… we tend avoid it.

We run from it or shut down or hide. And heres the thing.. Because we don’t want to listen to feedback from others, I believe we miss opportunities to grow and improve. The third problem area is this. Do you have an issue with saying no? This goes back to what other think of me… what would they say if I just said no. I don’t want to hurt someone’s feelings…

so I end up buying whatever someone is selling. We do this why, because we want people to like us. I think we have a hard time saying no because we seek affirmation, and acceptance. There are time where I dread saying yes, but at the same time I feel powerless when it comes to saying no. Everyday, in life, there are these endless errands, and demands from everything that demands from me to make a decision of either yes or no.

No one likes maybe. Ask any kid… can we go get ice cream.. maybe… that’s not an answer…. We want to know, is it a yes or no. Can you relate? I mean, think about seeking to be loved by others. Will they love me if I say no. If you really think about it, God says no to us all the time… does that mean God doesn’t love us? We know thats not true…

God is love, and sometimes, love is saying no to things that might not be good for us. Or even things that leads us into exhaustion. If this is you… having an issue saying no, being over sensitive to criticism, and obsessing what other people think… you might have the disease to please. Gods words says this in Proverbs 29, “Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.” It’s a snare.

Fearing what other people think is a snare… do you know what a snare does? It traps. THat’s it purpose. Theres one commentary that says, that this verse means that it not only traps, but it’s like a ring in the nose and it leads. That its why you see rings in the noses of bulls. It’s a way to control the bull. This trap of fearing men… seeking the approval of others…

is like a hook through your nose leading you around. And although it may seem like a carrot.. its not, its actually a trap designed to lead you. But not just a Physical trap or an emotional trap.. but it’s also a Spiritual trap as well. Let’s look at what Paul said too us in our Scripture, "Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God?

Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Paul here is addressing the people of Galatia who were deserting the gospel message of grace by faith alone, and not looking to our works to save us. They were leaving the truth about the gospel that Paul had left for them, and while he was gone, these false preachers were teaching doctrine contrary to what Paul had taught them.

Its a theme that we see repeated all throughout the book of Galatians. But here, this verse presents a choice. And the two choices you have comes from this one question, “who do you serve?” Theres a distinction between, living for the approval of others and living for the approval of God. Paul says here in the ending of verse 10, If I was trying to please others then I would not be a servant of Jesus.

Paul was showing you and me, that in this life of faith we have a choice. The choice is either pleasing others, or God. And in my opinion, we can choose to live as either servants or slaves. We either desire to serve God, or become slaves to the opinions of others. And I know, its a hard choice. Lets just be honest about it. Our whole life, even before Christ busted into the hardness of our heart and began to warm it with His grace, we lived for the approval of others.

Its totally easy to live today, tomorrow, and the next day and the next day constantly thinking about what others think of us, how others perceive us, try to gain a good standing with others. Following this carrot thinking that one day, we’ll get it.. like a hampseter on a wheel, thinking we’re going somewhere, and yet, never really getting anywhere. And heres the thing… Do we want to please people…

serve people, or do we want to serve God? That’s a hard question.. Are we not called to serve God and others????? we are!! It’s not that when we please God and we serve Jesus that we don’t care about others. We love others as ourselves. And we serve others. We lay down our lives for others. The Bible is very clear about calling us to do things in relationship to others, but its never for their approval.

Our love and service for others shouldn’t be so that they would like us, or approve us. We should never serve others so that they will think well of us. We serve others, because our approval and love is because we want to please God. But heres the truth of the choice we make that I mentioned earlier… When we seek the approval of others, over the approval of God, its a form of idolatry.

People pleasing is a form of idolatry… Idolatry is the worship, love, adoration of something other than the true God. When you love what others think about you more than what God thinks about you, it is Idolatry. Its self seeking. And think about this, why do Christians put more weight on the words of others and not on the words of God? I’ve been hurt by others and their words.

But I’ve also noticed that often times, I put more emphasis and stock into the words of what others say about me and think about me, than I do what Gods word says about me… We need two understand that BECOMING OBSESSED WITH WHAT PEOPLE THINK ABOUT YOUISTHE FASTEST WAY TO FORGET ABOUT WHAT GOD THINKS ABOUT YOU. It’s true.. It’s like we take our eyes off of God, and we seek approval from others around us..

and often times.. they are not always very nice in what they say to us. God word says, Gods words says, I am Beloved. “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved” (Ephesians 2:4-5). I’ve been told that I was messy, and dysfunctional, but Gods word says, I am a masterpiece.

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10). I’ve been told that I wasn’t a part of peoples life but God’s word says, I am chosen, and holy “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight” (Ephesians 1:4). I’ve been told that people wold never forgive, me, but gods words says, I am forgiven.

“In him, Meaning Christ Jesus, we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace” (Ephesians 1:7). God’s words tells us that we are a new Creation. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17). A find his word says, I am redeemed ”For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:13-14).

There are times when I begin to feel down about myself.. or I begin to listen to what others say about me, and I’ll pull out my phone and open the Bible app and begin reading what God says about me.. I posted it on Facebook but a friend of mine taught me this… when I get overwhelmed by life… I like to do this.. I will take a deep breath and say, I am ok.

I am strong I am worthy I am loved And I love Jesus and he loves me. I am replacing lies with truth. Remember I said, that people pleasing and seeking approval isn’t just about an emotional issue, but a spiritual issue. The enemy of your soul wants nothing more than to ruin your identity in Christ. And the enemy will pull the same tactics the world pulls.. he will try to get your to believe things that are untrue about who you are in Christ.

Jesus went through the same issue. Did you know, the enemy did the same thing to Jesus that he does to us. Think about the baptism of Jesus. Turn with me to Luke chapter 3… and watch this.. Luke says in verse 22, And a voice came from heaven saying, You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased. Jesus is affirmed by the Father and given an identity.

You are my son, and I am please with you. Now, is Jesus going to seek to please there Father or the people? We see all throughout the scriptures that Jesus’s aim was to please the father. But think about how this is a Spiritual battle. Right after this happens in Luke chapter 3, Luke does what? Luke then gives the lineage of Jesus pointing to David, and Abraham and all the way to the first man, Adam.

Then the Holy Spirit leads him where? To the wilderness for the temptations. As soon as God affirms him, he goes out into the wilderness to be tested. And we know the three temptations of Jesus, but have you ever noticed that twice, the enemy tested Jesus identity in the father and belief of what the Father said to Jesus at his baptism? Look in chapter 4, and at verse 3…

The devil said to him, if you are the son of God. The enemy goes after his identity in the father. And he does it again in verse 9… if you are the son of GOd. Jesus was tempted to take his eyes off of what His father says about him, and believe the one who lies and aims to steel kill and Destry him. And if the Spiritual battle wasn’t bad enough, Jesus then goes home to Nazareth and is rejected.

Ask d what we learn is this, When you love what others think about you more than what God thinks and says about you, it’s Idolatry.b You’re making it about you. But when you learn and know what God says about you, it sets you free from the disease to please. And so, the choice is yours.. You have to decide what is more important today. God’s approval or man’s approval?

I want to challenge you to open your heart and talk with God. I challenge you to come and talk with God at the altar today… you know they say, the alter is where you get altered.. but its more than just that, its also a place where our hearts can surrender. I want to challenge you to leave behind the fear of what others think, and come embrace God’s approval.

Think about all the things that seeking the approval of others has done to you… Most often, wondering what other people think about us, keeps us from coming too the altar in fear of what they might think of us. In the past, how many times have you felt Gods presence tugging on your heart to go pray, but you were afraid of what others may think. What about raising your hands in Worhsip…

have you ever been in a moment of Worhsip and felt if you raised your hand, that others might think weird things of you??? Some of you have been worrying about what others think of you in Worhsip and you’ve struggled with surrender. Let’s stand, together. When you come to the altar, You are coming to talk to a God who loves you. He accepts you. He approves of you. Your worth isn’t based on what people think about you.

Your worth is based on what God thinks about you. Embrace it… receive it… believe it. And then walk in it.. Trust me,.. you cant please everyone, but you can please God. And because of Christ and what He did on the cross, you are approved of God. *